New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday released its much-awaited first list of candidates for West Bengal Assembly polls, making it official that Suvendu Adhikari, a former protégé and close confidante of TMC supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee, will take on the latter head-on in Nandigram.
The electoral battle between Ms Banerjee and Mr Adhikari is being touted as the “Battle Royale” as the CM has left her Bhawanipur seat which she had been representing for the last two terms. Nandigram, in East Mednipur, is considered the home-turf of the Adhikaris’ and is credited for bringing the TMC to power in 2011 and ousting the Left from the state after 30 years of its rule.
The first list of 57 names, which came a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first election rally in the state at the Brigade Ground since the model code of conduct was imposed, also has names of former Indian cricketer Ashoke Dinda and ex-IPS officer Bharati Ghosh. One seat,…